When’s the next SA public holiday?
Looking though the calendar for the next public holiday is something many employees do. Public holidays give you and your employees a chance to spend some extra time with family and friends or enjoy a long weekend.
Although as an employer or business owner in South Australia, there are certain obligations you must meet that relate to public holidays. These can depend on your business type and industry. There’s also certain public holidays that affect all Aussie businesses.
If you’re unsure of your public holiday obligations or employee wage rates, call and speak to an expert adviser at Peninsula.
List of public holidays in South Australia for 2026
| Holiday | Date in 2026 |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thursday 1 January |
| Australia Day | Monday 26 January |
| Adelaide Cup Day | Monday 9 March |
| Good Friday | Friday 3 April |
| Easter Saturday | Saturday 4 April |
| Easter Sunday | Sunday 5 April |
| Easter Monday | Monday 6 April |
| ANZAC Day | Saturday 25 April |
| King’s Birthday | Monday 8 June |
| Labour Day | Monday 5 October |
| Christmas Eve | Thursday 24 December 7 pm-midnight |
| Christmas Day | Friday 25 December |
| Proclamation Day Holiday | Saturday 26 December. * As Proclamation Day falls on a Saturday in 2026, there is an additional public holiday for Monday 28 December 2026 |
| New Year’s Eve Part-day public holiday | Thursday 31 December 7 pm-midnight |
Is Easter Sunday a public holiday in South Australia?
Easter Sunday became a public holiday in South Australia from 1 January 2024. All four days of Easter are now public holidays in SA.
Proclamation Day public holiday
Proclamation Day is the day to celebrate the founding of South Australia as a British colony in the early 1800s. While the original date was 28 December 1836, the date was later moved to the first workday following Christmas, which is typically 26 December. The day is called ‘Proclamation Day’ because it was on this day the official proclamation of the new colony’s existence was read.
Part-day public holidays in South Australia
An employee who works between the hours of 7 pm and 12 midnight on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve is entitled to public holiday rates. These rates will be provided by the relevant Award or Enterprise Agreement. Even when these days fall on Saturday or Sunday, these conditions should be followed.
Trading on public holidays in South Australia
The trading rules and regulations for retailers in South Australian shopping districts is regulated by the Shop Trading Hours Act 1977 and Shop Trading Hours Regulations 2018. Where a shop is located, its size and what it sells determines if it’s exempt or not exempt from the shop’s trading laws.
Easter Saturday is a public holiday but is a normal day of Saturday trading in the Greater Adelaide Shopping District. Non-exempt shops in the Greater Adelaide Shopping District can trade from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm on the additional public holiday when New Year’s Day, Christmas Day and Proclamation Day holiday fall on a Saturday or Sunday (or Monday in the case of the Proclamation Day holiday).
Employee entitlements on public holidays in South Australia
A shop is entitled to be opened on a Sunday or a public holiday if each employee who works in the shop during that Sunday or public holiday has voluntarily accepted an offer to work on that day.
Enjoying a public holiday
The holiday season, public holidays, and long weekends mean enjoying good food and fun times with family and friends. If you’re a business owner or employer in South Australia, you need to be aware of all the public holidays and appropriate employee entitlements to ensure you meet your legal obligations.
Peninsula is committed to providing answers to your public holiday questions. Call our expert team 24/7 for free initial advice.
This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute as business or legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. It does not take into consideration your specific business, industry or circumstances. You should seek legal or other professional advice regarding matters as they relate to you or your business. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Peninsula Group disclaim all liability for any errors or omissions contained in this information or any failure to update or correct this information. It is your responsibility to assess and verify the accuracy, completeness, and reliability of the information in this article.